The Yaquina Estuary contains ~98.5 hectares of eelgrass which covers approximately 5% of 
the total area of the estuary (Figure 11.1). This eelgrass is in three zones consisting of: 1) a permanent 
bed of perennials in the lower intertidal and subtidal 1 (below Mean Lower Low Water, MLLW), 2) an 
intertidal transition zone (0.0 m to 0.5 m above MLLW) consisting of perennial patches and annual 
shoots; and 3) an upper intertidal zone (0.5 m to 1.5 m above MLLW) consisting of only annual shoots 
(Bayer, 1979). 
Newport 
Toledo 
Zone 2: 
Riverine 
Dominated 
Zostera marina 
Marine 
Dominated 
is 
Figure 11.1 Spatial distribution of Yaquina Estuary eelgrass. 
1 Below-1.0m MLLW 
72 
